Unified subscription identifier management in communication systems

Abstract

A user equipment in a communication system, a unified subscription identifier data structure is constructed. The unified subscription identifier data structure includes a plurality of fields that specify information for a selected one of two or more subscription identifier types and selectable parameters associated with the selected subscription identifier type, and wherein the information in the unified subscription identifier data structure is useable by the user equipment to access one or more networks associated with the communication system based on an authentication scenario corresponding to the selected subscription identifier type. For example, during different authentication scenarios, the user equipment utilizes the unified subscription identifier data structure to provide the appropriate subscription identifier (e.g., SUPI, SUCI or IMSI) and associated parameters for a given authentication scenario.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A user equipment comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform at least:
 constructing a unified subscription identifier data structure, wherein the unified subscription identifier data structure comprises a plurality of fields that include at least one field specifying a selected one of two or more subscription identifier types; and 
 using the unified subscription identifier data structure to access one or more networks associated with the wireless communication system based on an authentication scenario corresponding to the selected subscription identifier type, 
 wherein the plurality of fields comprises a subscription identifier type field, and 
 wherein the plurality of fields comprises a unified data management (UDM) selection parameter field. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein a subscription identifier type is selectable from a group comprising a Concealed Subscription Identifier (SUCI), a Subscriber Permanent Identifier (SUPI), and an International Mobile Station Identifier (IMSI). 
     
     
       3. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises an encryption on/off field. 
     
     
       4. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises a key derivation function field. 
     
     
       5. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises a mobile country code field. 
     
     
       6. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises a mobile network code field. 
     
     
       7. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises a field specifying a selected curve from an elliptic curve integrated encryption scheme. 
     
     
       8. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises an ephemeral public key pair field. 
     
     
       9. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises a field specifying a length of an encrypted Mobile Station Identification Number (MSIN) field. 
     
     
       10. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication system comprises a fifth-generation (5G) system. 
     
     
       11. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions stored on the at least one memory, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the user equipment to perform at least:
 sending the unified subscription identifier data structure to at least one network entity in the wireless communication system to gain access to the one or more networks associated with the wireless communication system. 
 
     
     
       12. The user equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises a profile selection field. 
     
     
       13. The user equipment of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises an encryption algorithm identifier field. 
     
     
       14. The user equipment of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises a key derivation function parameter field. 
     
     
       15. The user equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises an encrypted MSIN field. 
     
     
       16. The user equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of fields comprises an MSIN message authentication code field. 
     
     
       17. The user equipment of  claim 12 , wherein the profile selection field enables the user equipment to notify one or more network entities in the one or more networks associated with the wireless communication system to use pre-established values for one or more selectable parameters associated with the selected subscription identifier field. 
     
     
       18. The user equipment of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions stored on the at least one memory, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the user equipment to perform at least:
 sending the unified subscription identifier data structure with the profile selection field and a reduced set of fields to at least one of the one or more network entities in the wireless communication system to gain access to the one or more networks associated with the wireless communication system. 
 
     
     
       19. A method comprising:
 constructing, at a user equipment in a wireless communication system, a unified subscription identifier data structure, wherein the unified subscription identifier data structure comprises a plurality of fields that include at least one field specifying a selected one of two or more subscription identifier types; 
 using the unified subscription identifier data structure to access one or more networks associated with the wireless communication system based on an authentication scenario corresponding to the selected subscription identifier type, 
 wherein the plurality of fields comprises a subscription identifier type field, and 
 wherein the plurality of fields comprises a unified data management (UDM) selection parameter field. 
 
     
     
       20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having embodied therein executable program code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform at least:
 constructing, at a user equipment in a wireless communication system, a unified subscription identifier data structure, wherein the unified subscription identifier data structure comprises a plurality of fields that include at least one field specifying a selected one of two or more subscription identifier types; and 
 using the unified subscription identifier data structure to access one or more networks associated with the wireless communication system based on an authentication scenario corresponding to the selected subscription identifier type, 
 wherein the plurality of fields comprises a subscription identifier type field, and 
 wherein the plurality of fields comprises a unified data management (UDM) selection parameter field.